Millions of people across the world experience neck pain. This area is extremely important because the neck not only supports the head, but also it enables a range of head movements and protects the spinal cord as it travels from the brain down to the rest of the body. There are many causes of neck pain, ranging from minor muscle strains to degenerative conditions affecting the cervical (upper) region of the spine. By learning more about how neck pain is diagnosed and treated by doctors, you can make a more confident decision about your care and give yourself a better chance of finding the relief you need if neck pain is affecting your life.

Receiving a diagnosis and initial treatment for neck pain

You should see your doctor regarding neck pain that is severe or has been lasting for more than a few days. To determine the underlying cause, your doctor can review your symptoms and medical history, perform a physical examination and order diagnostic testing such as an X-ray, CT scan or MRI to get a better look. In most cases — including spine conditions such as arthritis or a herniated disc — your doctor will first prescribe a course of conservative treatments. These can typically include the following:

Short periods of rest

Medication

Physical therapy

Epidural steroid injections

Therapeutic massage

If you have been diagnosed with a degenerative spine condition as the cause of your neck pain and it doesn’t respond to a full course of conservative treatments, surgery can become an option. Some patients have concerns about the risks and difficulties associated with spine surgery, especially traditional open neck procedures, but there are alternatives.

Minimally invasive spine surgery for neck pain

The minimally invasive spine surgery performed at Laser Spine Institute is often the clinically appropriate first choice and provides many advantages versus traditional open neck or back surgery, including a smaller incision and a faster recovery time.^ By using techniques that gently spread the muscles, our highly skilled surgeons are able to perform these procedures on an outpatient basis.

Contact us today to learn more about our minimally invasive decompression and minimally invasive stabilization procedures that have helped more than 75,000 people find relief from neck and back pain. We will be happy to provide you with a no-cost review of your CT scan or MRI* to determine if you may be a candidate for one of our procedures.

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*Our MRI review is an informational review of the MRI report that you provide to us and is not a form of diagnosis. A diagnosis and a final determination of whether you may benefit from treatment at Laser Spine Institute can only be made after you have been physically examined by our medical professionals at Laser Spine Institute. The MRI review has no value and will not be billed.